In Orissa and Bengal, Lakshmi images include a white owl. In
local belief, white owls have come to be associated with
auspiciousness and good luck because of their association with the
goddess. Who is this owl? Scriptures do not clarify.

Some say, Lakshmi rides the owl; others believe the owl simply
accompanies her, while she rides on a elephant, the latter being a
more appropriate vehicle for the goddess who is associated with
wealth, power, and royal splendor.

Owls are solitary creatures, who sleep all day and prowl at night.
Because of their nocturnal activity and screeching call, they have
been associated with bad luck and death, leading to the conclusion
that she is Alakshmi, Lakshmi’s elder twin, the goddess of strife
and misfortune. But because of its round eyes that never move and
stare straight ahead, the owl has been associated with wisdom in
many parts of the world, especially ancient Greece, where it was
closely associated with Athena, goddess of wisdom. The term “lord
with circular eyes” (Choka-dola) is used in the East to refer to
Jagannath, the form of Krishna-Vishnu worshipped in Puri, Orissa,
leading to speculation that the owl actually represents Lakshmi’s
consort, Vishnu. Favoring this line of thought, is the fact that in
Hindu mythology, the vahana or vehicle of a deity is always male,
not female. But the idea that Lakshmi would ride her own husband,
thought acceptable to feminists, is abhorrent to traditionalists.
They insist that the owl accompanies the goddess; she does not ride
it. If she does not ride the owl, then it could be either
Vishnu, or Alakshmi.

But Vishnu never follows Lakshmi; she follows him, drawn by his
ability to uphold order or dharma wherever he goes. And Alakshmi,
always accompanies, Lakshmi, for she is the elder sister. In
images, Lakshmi is associated with both Vishnu and the owl. Art
historians are of the opinion that since it is inauspicious to
portray Alakshmi, artists have chosen to represent her as an owl.
But why represent her at all?

The idea of Lakshmi having a twin sister is an ancient one. Some
say while Lakshmi was born of Brahma’s face, Alakshmi was born from
his back. Some say Lakshmi emerged along with Amrita, the nectar of
immortality, when the gods were churning the ocean of milk;
Alakshmi emerged with Halahal, the dreaded poison with the power to
destroy the world. Alakshmi is called many things including
Daridra, poverty personified; Kalaha, strife personified;
Kalikanni, quarrel personified; Nritti, goddess of decay. In the
mythology of Shiva, Alakshmi is Kali, the fearsome aspect of
Shakti, while Lakshmi is Gauri, the lovable aspect of Shakti. In
Vishnu mythology, Lakshmi adores dharma (acts born of empathy)
while Alakshmi adores adharma (acts born of exploitation). Thus
Lakshmi and Alakshmi are two halves of a complete whole; Lakshmi is
the fruit that is savored while Alakshmi is the waste that is
discarded. The two exist as a whole; without either there is
neither.

In mythology, Lakshmi does not make any value judgment. A bowl of
rice feeds a saint and a sinner; a rupee coin has the same value in
the hands of a judge and the same value in the hands of a murderer.
But Lakshmi always comes with her sister in tow. Failure to
acknowledge Alakshmi is dangerous for she represents all the
negative energies that accompany any wealth. Everyone knows that
money breeds strife and jealousy. Alakshmi embodies that dark
aspect of wealth. She is the one who makes rich brothers quarrel.
She is the one who divides the household. She is the one who does
not allow peace to enter the house of gold.

The only way to make Alakshmi weak is to constantly be aware of
her; acknowledge her as much as her sister. Typically in rituals,
sweets, kept inside the house, are offered to Lakshmi while lemons
and chillies, kept outside the house, are meant for Alakshmi.
Lakshmi, say the scriptures, never goes anywhere without her
sister. In other words, wealth never goes anywhere without the seed
of strife.

The story goes that Lakshmi and Alakshmi once paid a visit to a
trader and asked her who of the two is more beautiful. The trader
was frightened of making either one unhappy so he came up with a
clever answer that would please both. “Lakshmi is beautiful when
she walks towards me. Alakshmi is beautiful when she walks away
from me.” Pleased with this response, fortune moved towards the
trader while strife moved away.

Today, we seem to be inviting strife into our house. News reports
celebrate strife. Television shows are based on strife. Everyone is
fighting. Young people are fighting on reality shows and the
audience loves it. Judges are fighting, singers are fighting and we
are beaming these thoughts into our living rooms during family
time, while eating dinner. War is presented as entertainment.
Stories of rape and abuse and murder are generating vicarious
thrills. And all this is happening at a time when India is
reaping the benefits of liberalization. Guess, in our pursuit of
Lakshmi, we have forgotten to tell Alakshmi, with utmost love and
respect, “Stay out!”